Llewellin question

[songdog]

It's nice to know that after reading way more than I should have in the past month or so I've come up to pretty much what Whoadog said to start with...

Llewellins sound pretty much like what I'm looking for. ###If I can just remember how to spell it and pronounce it I'll feel a little better. ###

You mentioned that you were getting a pup from KY? ###Can I ask which kennel? ###Straight Creek is one in KY that seemed to stand out a little from some of the others in my research.

Can you offer an reason why I would <not> want to opt for a started dog other than the cost (which, agreed, is trivial over 10-15 years)? ###I'd like to be able to hunt with it next fall so I'm assuming that I'm going to need a minimum of 3-4 months with the dog before feeling comfortable about taking it out in the field in a real world situation?

The dog will definitely have a lot of wild birds shot over it throughout the course of a year (300 or so quail and as many chukar as the dog can find). ###Is it possible to shoot too many birds over a dog when it's young?

Couple of other specific questions - male/female? ###And how do they do in the SoCal heat? ###Do you shave your dogs at the beginning of the season?

Thanks!

[Whoadog]

###My 11 month old pup is from Straight Creek. ###My nine and ten year old are from Al King, breeder of "Hank", in my opinion he has turned into a puppy mill and would not use him. ###I have a friend via the internet down in Southern CA that visited Straight Creeks kennel and seen many of their finished dogs and bought an 18 month old dog from them and was very impressed with the others. ###If you would like I could ask permission from him to give you his e-mail and you could contact him. ###You are also welcome to come up and hunt with mine.
### As far as hunting age my two older dogs were further along than my present pup is at this age but it is just a maturity thing and no two are the same as to when it all clicks. ###I have really put no training into my pup I just let her run and learn about everything the first year and what for her to tell me when she is ready and she is close. ###She has been in on the kill of pheasants, chukar, and quail and loves it. ###You will never shoot too many birds over a dog, as long as it is over a successful point. ###If the dog doesn't work a bird correctly during it's training period don't shoot the bird and they will learn quickly how it works.
###As far as sex my male may have a little more stamina but really not enough to tell the difference. ###I had to spay my feamle earlier this year and that took some of her drive away. ###My pup has more muscle tone that Al King's dogs and she is a real barn burner but stays within 75-100 yards which is perfect. ###It is true that lews adjust to different cover well, they range further in open country and come in in the thicker cover.
###I shave my dogs about May every year and that is it. ###I pretty much run them year round and believe if you keep them in good shape heat really isn't a problem.
###It won't take you 3-4 months for a started dog to get used to you, more like a couple of weeks. ###You could take my dogs today and they would hunt no problem for you.

Brian ###

[songdog]

Whoadog,

It would be great to talk to your friend down in this end of the state. ###If it's easier, fell free to give him my email address.

Sorry for the novice questions but Straight Creek has "Started" and "Green Broke" trained dogs. ###What's the difference?

I may take you up on that hunt offer up north. ###It would be nice to see them in action. ###I haven't looked too hard down here but there aren't many upland dogs in my circle and so far I'm the only one that can spell Llewellin.

I definitely hunt varried cover. ###I could be out in the desert chasing quail, on some rocky mountain chasing chukar or in some thing scrub oak for mountain quail. ###Good to hear that the dogs can adjust relatively easily.

[Dakota]

I don't claim to be an expert but a couple of my dogs have made me look like one on occasion. ###(Sometimes like an ass too)

A started dog is one that is basically one that is still just having fun. ###Pointing, retrieving and finding dead birds. ###Green broke is steady to point, retreives, quarters and handles but may not be steady to wing and shot especially without a check cord. ###They are basically ready to hunt but don't have all the bells and whistles of a finished dog. ###If this is you first pointer you might want some help with training. ###I live in your area and have a pretty darn good GSP. ###Whistle and hand signal trained. ###There is also a professional trainer not to far from you that helped me. ###Eldon Hongo out of Rosemond. ###



Good luck

Got a pigeon trap you could borrow too. ###Lot cheaper than buying chukar for ###puppy.

(Edited by Dakota at 6:15 pm on Jan. 7, 2002)

[Whoadog]

Songdog,
###Your best bet is to call Steve at SC and ask him what he has to offer as far as started dogs. ###I will e-mail Jack and have him contact you if he is willing, I am sure he will be just don't want to be rude.

Brian